Craco is a ghost town and comune in the Province of Matera, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata.

The old town was abandoned due to natural disasters. The abandonment has made Craco a tourist attraction and a popular filming location. In 2010, Craco has been included in the watch list of the World Monuments Fund.

History

Around 540 BC, the area was called Montedoro and inhabited by Greeks who moved inland from the coastal town of Metaponto. Tombs have been found dating from the 8th century BC, suggesting the original settlement dates back to then. The town’s name can be dated to 1060 AD, when the land was the possession of Arnaldo, Archbishop of Tricarico, who called the area Graculum, which means in Latin “little plowed field”. This long association of the Church with the town had a great influence on the inhabitants.

From 1154 to 1168, the control of the village passed to the nobleman Eberto, probably of Norman origin, who established the first feudal control over the town. Then in 1179, Roberto of Pietrapertosa became the landlord of Craco. Under Frederick II, Craco was an important military center and the Castle Tower became a prison.

In 1276, a university was established in town. During the 13th century, Craco became feudal tenure of Muzio Sforza. The population increased from 450 (1277), to 655 (1477), to 1,718 (1532), until reaching 2,590 in 1561; and averaged 1,500 in succeeding centuries. By the 15th century, four large palazzi had developed in the town: Palazzo Maronna near the tower, Palazzo Grossi near the big church, Palazzo Carbone on the Rigirones property, and Palazzo Simonetti. During 1656, a plague struck, with hundreds dying and reducing the number of families in the town.

By 1799, with the proclamation of the Parthenopean Republic, the townspeople overthrew the Bourbon feudal system. Innocenzo De Cesare returned to Naples, where he had studied, and promoted an independent municipality. The republican revolution lasted few months and Craco returned under the Bourbon monarchy. Subsequently, the town fell under the control of the Napoleonic occupation. Bands of brigands, supported by the Bourbon government in exile, attacked Craco on July 18, 1807, plundering and killing the pro-French notables.

By 1815, the town was large enough to divide it into two districts: Torrevecchia, the highest area adjacent to the castle and tower; and Quarter della Chiesa Madre, the area adjacent to San Nicola’s Church. After the unification of Italy, in 1861 Craco was conquered by the bands of brigands headed by Carmine Crocco.

With the end of the civil strife, the greatest difficulty the town faced became environmental and geological. From 1892 to 1922, over 1,300 Crachesi migrated to North America mainly due to poor agricultural conditions. In 1963, Craco began to be evacuated due to a landslide and the inhabitants moved to the valley of Craco Peschiera. The landslide seems to have been provoked by works of infrastructure, sewer and water systems. In 1972 a flood worsened the situation further, preventing a possible repopulation of the historic center. After the earthquake in 1980, the ancient site of Craco was completely abandoned.

In 2007, the descendants of the emigrants of Craco in the United States formed the Craco Society.

Cinema

La lupa (1953), by Alberto Lattuada

Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979), by Francesco Rosi

Three Brothers (1981), by Francesco Rosi

King David (1985), by Bruce Beresford

Saving Grace (1986), by Robert M. Young

The Sun Also Shines at Night (1990), by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani

The Nymph (1996), by Lina Wertmüller

The Big Question (2004), by Francesco Cabras and Alberto Molinari

The Passion of The Christ (2004), by Mel Gibson

The Nativity Story (2006), by Catherine Hardwicke

Quantum of Solace (2008), by Marc Forster

Basilicata Coast to Coast (2010), by Rocco Papaleo

Murder in the Dark (2013), by Dagen Merrill

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Tripadvisor

Stunning property Torre Fiore is stylish but also comfortable. It has a beautiful pool area. The room is sort of cave-like in...read more that there are few windows (perhaps reminiscent of nearby Matera) but it was a fantastic room – huge and comfortable, with a great sitting area. It had a wonderful and modern bathroom. The food at dinner was just outstanding and the overall service for our entire stay was excellent. They provide great maps for sightseeing in the area annotated by the slightly eccentric but very warm and welcoming owner.read less

Wonderful relaxing stay Our family of 4 including 2 teenage daughters enjoyed a lovely relaxing stay the last week of August. We stayed...read more in rooms 6&7 which connected and had a generous living area between the two rooms. It worked perfect for us. The service and attention is wonderful and so personal with the owner always checking in to ensure we were happy. The pool is a quiet spot for cooling off and relaxing. Breakfast each morning was very good with enough selection. We rented a car and took advantage of the hotel’s recommendations for day trips and thoroughly enjoyed our exploration of towns and historical sites and the nearby beach. We had 3 dinners at the hotel and all were amazing. Great place for couples or families looking for a spot in the Puglia region. Moreread less

kmlhome

9/05/2018

Wonderful time We had such an incredible time at Hotel dei Fiori. Marianne and the staff had made us feel at a...read more very special home. Everyone had been very friendly, the rooms are stunning, the decoration is superb, the food excellent (special mention to the morning Nutella torte!) The team has a very good knowledge of the area, which made us discovered an unspoilt region and a magnificent beach, with a great lunch restaurant. We will definitely come back to this beautiful place.read less

Stunning ! We spent 4 nights at Torre Fiore this July we stayed in the Torre suite #13 was amazing, it was...read more a 2 bedroom apartment, beautifully furnished with a mix of modern and rustic touches. Marianna and the staff at Torre Fiore were welcoming, helpful and efficient. The food was great from the delicious buffet breakfast to dinner and always prepared with locally sourced fresh produces. The whole experience was very relaxing and invigorating, I highly recommend staying at Torre Fiore !read less